Fastener packages



Dec. 11, 1962 H. 1'. DEcoT ETAL FASTENER PACKAGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1961 mm m M Am fm eds@ n U ./m hw un.

Unite States 3,067,424 FASTENER PACKAGES Harold T. Decot, Wenhaxn, and Leo Stone, Brockton,

Mass., assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 29, 1961, Ser. No. 113,248 1li Claims. (Cl. 1-56) This application relates to packages for containing fasteners, such as nails and the like, and is illustrated as embodied in a fastener containing package of the type shown in application Serial No. 852,560, filed November l2, 1959 (now United States Patent No. 3,031,670, granted May 1, 1962), in the name of Frederick S. Sillars, although it will be understood that the invention is not limited to packages of this particular type.

The fastener containing package of the Sillars application is formed from a strip of corrugated board and comprises a pair of parallel at side pieces joined by a fiuted web which, with the side pieces, form fastener containing pockets. Such packages are particularly useful with portable fastener driving tools because of the ease with which the tools may be hand loaded.

The package of the aforementioned application is particularly well suited for fasteners, the shank diameters of which are such that they fit tightly within the pockets of the package. However, it is not as well suited for containing fasteners having shank diameters which are substantially less than the widths of the pockets or for fasteners having small heads, such as nishing nails, or no heads at all. Headless fasteners or those provided with small heads may fall through the pockets out of the package.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener containing package of the aforementioned type adapted securely to retain within the pockets thereof fasteners having Shanks of a substantial range of diameters as well as fasteners having heads of various diameters or no heads at all.

To this end, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the side pieces of the package have formed integrally therewith inwardly projecting yieldable members engageable with the Shanks of the inserted fastenings for holding the fastenings securely in place regardless of the shank diameters, throughout a wide range of sizes. As illustrated herein, these holding members are formed by suitably indenting the side pieces of the package to form members which extend into the pockets for the purposes above specified. The indentations forming the holding members may assume various forms and are hereinafter illustrated as comprising one or more inwardly projecting fingers which are pressed or otherwise cut into the side pieces. The fingers may be oriented in various directions relatively to the strip and to the fasteners contained therein. At least one inwardly projecting finger is formed in each pocket but there is hereinafter described various combinations and arrangements of the lingers t effect varying degrees of support for the fasteners.

The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular packages embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of this inventtion may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a fastener package embodying the invention and accommodating fasteners of one illustrative type and size;

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FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a package of the same size and type as shown in FIG. 1 but containing fasteners of a different size and type;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along the major axes of the packages between the points III-III and IV-IV on FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior of the package shown in FIG. 1 illustrating one form of inwardly projecting fastener supporting means oriented lengthwise of the package;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 showing another form of orientation of the supporting means of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view through a package showing the fastener supporting means oriented in the manner shown in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 each showing another form of fastener supporting means oriented in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively;

FIGS. 10, 12, 14 and 16, are side elevations of fastener packages embodying the invention with the fastener supporting means arrayed in various patterns in the strip; and,

FIGS. 11, 13, l5 and 17 are end views of the packages shown in FIGS. 10, 12, 14 and 16, respectively.

While the invention is illustrated as embodied in packages containing nails, it will be appreciated that this invention may be employed for the packaging of numerous types and sizes of articles or fasteners other than nails and particularly other than the types herein illustrated.

Referring to FIGS. l and 3, an expendable corrugated nail package or strip 2 will be seen comprising two parallel side pieces 4 and 6 of fibrous material separated by a fluted web 8 also of fibrous material arranged as continuous corrugations 10 which, together with the side pieces, form pockets 12 in which fasteners, herein illustrated as spirally threaded nails 13 are located. As thus described, the package is similar to that disclosed in tne above-identified Sillars application. Y

The side pieces 4 and 6 are indented as Shown at 14 to form inwardly projecting fastener supporting members which are engageable with the shanks of nails contained in the pockets. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, each of the indentations 14 or holding members is lformed by a substantially H-shaped incision in the members 4 and 6, thereby forming a pair of inwardly projecting fingers 16, 18. The lingers project into the pockets 12 as seen in perspective in FIG. 5 substantially in alignment with the center lines or axes a of the nails 13. The lingers 16 and 18 being integral with the side pieces 4 and 6 are yieldable and project into the pockets to engage the fasteners and hold them firmly in the pockets by pressing them against the web 8.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the Shanks of the spirally threaded nails 13 are almost as large as the distance between the side members 4 and 6 and accordingly when inserted in the pockets 12 they engage the web material S and push the finger members 16 and 18 outwardly so that they are almost liush with the side members 4 and 6. Thus, the web material 8 and the fingers 16 and 18 hold the nails rmly in place. FIGS. 2 and 4 show nails 19 of the annular threaded type whose Shanks in this illustration are substantially smaller in diameter than those shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Accordingly, when they are inserted in the pockets of a corrugated nail strip which is identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one side of the nails engage the corrugations 10 of the web material 8 and are fully supported by the fingers 16 and 18 on the other, the fingers forcing the nails away from the associated side piece and against the fiuted web. The smaller diameter nails cause less deection of the fingers 16, 18. Were it not for the holding or pressing power of the inwardly projecting fingers 16, 18 it will be seen that smaller diameter nails would lit very loosely within the pockets 12 and if they were headless might fall through the strip 2. Because of the resiliency of the fingers, they hold each nail firmly in the pocket regardless of size.

FIG. shows one form of orientation of an indentation 14 relative to the package or strip 2. The axis of the indentation 14 and consequently that of the `lingers 16 and 18 are aligned with or lie in a plane that includes the major axis A of the fastener package and extends transversely of theV axis a of the nail contained in the strip.

FIG. 6 shows the indentation or holding member 14 and consequently the fingers 16 and 1S aligned with the axis a of the nail or lying in a plane which contains the axis a of the fastener. This orientation affords greater holding power and is particularly beneficial for holding annular threaded nails. As will be seen in FIG. 7, the shank of an annular threaded nail 19 comprises, essentially, a plurality of truncated cones 2) and the upper finger 16 acts as a toggle lock to prevent the nail 19 from moving upwardly out of the strip. However, when the nail 19 is driven downwardly from the strip, the camming action of each of the truncated cones 2@ against the fingers permits the nail to move readily from the package.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a slightly different form of holding member 21 comprising a single finger Z2 formed by indenting the strip. FIG. 8 illustrates the single finger holding member oriented in the manner of the double finger of FIG. 5, i.e. aligned or parallel with the major axis A of the strip and FIG. 9 shows the single finger 22 aligned with the axis a of the fastener or lying in a plane which contains the axis a of the fastener. It will be appreciated that the indentations need not assume the exact configurations herein illustrated nor need they be precisely centered in the pockets 12 to support the nails and still fall within the spirit and scope of this invention.

FIGS. l0 through 17 are schematic views of fastener packaging strips 2 embodying the invention with the indentations 1d or holding members arrayed in various patterns on the strip. While the indentations have herein been described primarily as holding members for the fasteners in the pockets 12 the indented or depressed areas as they exist on the outside of the side pieces 4 and 6 may also serve to assist in feeding the strip 2 to a fastener driving tool or through the machinery which inserts the fasteners in the pockets. For example, the strip may be fed through either a tool or machine by one or more driven star wheels engageable with the indentations in the strip and having the same number of teeth and the same pitch circumference as a unit length of the strip has indentations.

FIGS. l and 2 disclose a strip 2 having the indenta` tions 14 formed in a line through the middle of both the side pieces 4 and 6 in alignment with the major axis A of the strip. Therefore, the lines are equidistant from the top and bottom edges 24 and 26 of the strip. One line is formed in the side 6 with the indentations projecting into every pocket which faces the side 6. The other line is formed in the side 4 with the indentations in staggered relationship and projecting into the alternate pockets facing the side 4.

FIGS. l0 through 17 show other patterns in which the indentations 14 are formed in the strips. FIGS. 10 and ll disclose a strip having one line of indentations 14 Von one side of the strip located near the bottom edge 26 and another line at the opposite side of the strip located near the top edge Z4, the indentations 14 on each side entering alternate pockets. This strip is slightly more rigid than the FIG. l strip since the lines of indentations are offset from each other heightwise. Since one inden- .d tation enters each pocket, the nail holding power is the same as in FIG. l.

FIGS. l2 and 13 disclose a strip having two lines of indentations 14 on each side of the strip in staggered heightwise relationship. The indentations 14 on each side are offset so that two indentations or holding members project into each pocket and therefore afford twice the holding power for the fastener contained therein as is afforded by the strips of FIGS. l or l0.

FiGS. 14 and l5 disclose a strip having two lines of indentations 1d on each side equally spaced from the top and Ibottom edges 24, Z6 of the strip. This strip affords the same holding power as that shown in FIG. l2, but the strip itself is slightly less rigid than that of FIG. 12 since each line of indentations is not staggered heightwise from the other lines.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show a strip in which there are two lines of indentations on one side and one line on the other side. Thus the fasteners in alternate pockets are held with twice the force as are the fasteners in adjacent pockets. The strip, therefore, has the same minimum holding power as the strip disclosed in FIG. 1. The uneven number of lines of indentations 14;, however, lfacilitates the strip being used in a feeding mechanism which comprises two star wheels engageable with one side of the strip and a single star wheel engageable with the opposite side midway between the two first-mentioned wheels.

It will be understood that indentations of any type may be employed in the above disclosed patterns, i.e., the single or double finger indentations described herein, or any other indentations wherein portions of the side members 4 and 6 are pressed into the pockets without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip of corrugated board including two parallel flat side pieces and a fiuted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, the side pieces of said strip being indented to form inwardly projecting supporting members engageable with the shanks of the fasteners contained in the pockets, said members being yieldable relatively to the pockets, and acting on the fasteners to force them away from the associated side pieces and into engagement with the fluted web thereby to support fasteners of different sizes.

2. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip cut from corrugated board including two parallel fiat side pieces and a iiuted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, a plurality of indentations in the side pieces, each indentation comprising at least one yieldable supporting finger projecting inwardly into a pocket and engageable with the shank of the fastener contained therein, Said iinger being yieldable relatively to the pockets and acting on the fasteners to force the fasteners away from the associated side piece and into engagement with the fluted web, whereby said strip may accommodate fasteners having shanks of different diameters.

3. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip cut from corrugated board including two parallel iiat side pieces and a fluted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, a plurality of indentations in the side pieces, each indentation comprising a pair of supporting fingers integral with the side pieces and projecting inwardly into a pocket and engageable with the shank of the fastener contained therein, said fingers being yieldable relatively to the pockets and acting on the fasteners to force the fastensrs away from the associated side piece and into engagement with the iiuted web, whereby7 said strip may accommodate fasteners having shanks of different diameters.

4. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip cut from corrugated board including two parallel flat side pieces and a iiuted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, a plurality of indentations in the side pieces, each indentation comprising at least one yieldable supporting finger projecting inwardly into a pocket and engageable with the shank of the fastener contained therein to force the fastener away from the associated side piece and into engagement with the fluted web, each inwardly projecting finger being oriented in a plane containing the axis of the fastener it engages.

5. A package containing fasteners -comprising a strip cut from corrugated board including two parallel at side pieces and a uted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are lcated, a plurality of indentations in the side pieces, each indentation comprising at least one yieldable supporting finger projecting inwardly into a pocket and engageable with the shank of the fastener contained therein to force the fastener away from the associated side piece and into engagement with the fluted web, each inwardly projecting finger being oriented in a plane extending transversely of the axis of the fastener it engages.

6. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip of corrugated board including two parallel flat side pieces and a uted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, the side pieces of said strip being indented to form inwardly projecting supporting members engageable with the shanks of the fasteners contained in the pockets, said members being yieldable relatively to the pockets to support fasteners of different sizes by pressing the fasteners against the web, said indentations being arrayed -in lines on both sides of the package extending lengthwise equidistant from its top and bottom.

7. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip of corrugated board including two parallel iiat side pieces and a fluted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, the side pieces of said strip being indented to form inwardly projecting supporting members engageable with the Shanks of the fasteners contained in the pockets, said members being yieldable relatively to the pockets to support fasteners of different sizes by pressing the fasteners against the web, said indentations being arrayed in two lines on both sides of the package extending lengthwise thereof.

8. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip of corrugated board including two parallel at side pieces and a uted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, the side pieces of said strip being indented to form inwardly projecting supporting members engageable with the shanks of the fasteners contained in the pockets, said members being yieldable relatively to the pockets to support' fas-t teners of different sizes by pressing them against the web, said indentations being arrayed in two lines extending lengthwise of the package on both sides thereof, the lines being in staggered relationship relative to each other on both sides of the package.

l9. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip of corrugated board including two parallel flat side pieces and a iiuted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, the side pieces of said strip being indented to form inwardly projecting supporting members engageable with the shanks of the fasteners contained in the pockets, said members being yieldable relatively to the pockets to support fasteners of different sizes by pressing them against the web, said indentations being arrayed in two lines on both sides of the package extending lengthwise thereof, the lines being in alignment with each other on both sides of the package. A

10. A package containing fasteners comprising a strip of corrugated board inclu-ding two parallel at side pieces and a liuted web which together with the side pieces form pockets in which the fasteners are located, the side pieces of said strip being indented to form inwardly projecting supporting members engageable with the Shanks of the fasteners contained in the pockets, said members being yieldable relatively to the pockets to support fasteners of different sizes by pressing them against the web, said indentations being arrayed in one line on one side of the package and in two lines on the opposite side.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 556,878 Benedict Mar. 24, 1896 1,064,813 Bloomberg June 17, 1913 2,599,011 Phipard June 3, 1952 2,815,124 Pellier Dec. 3, 1957 

